To Beguile a Beast

Beneath Helen’s beautiful façade, Alistair finds a courageous and sensual woman. A woman who doesn’t back away from his surliness—or his scars. But just as he begins to believe in true love, Helen’s secret past threatens to tear them apart. Now both Beast and Beauty must fight for the one thing neither believed they could ever find—a happy ever after.

The story was nicely paced and the plot was believable. The inner conflict of the characters was expressed very well and both characters were worth cheering for. The resolution came at just the right time...something that seems to be a struggle for many authors. I loved this story!

The Bargain

Forced to wed to keep her inheritance, independent Lady Jocelyn Kendal finds an outrageous solution: she proposes marriage to Major David Lancaster, an officer dying from his Waterloo wounds. In return for making her his wife, she will provide for his governess sister. But after the bargain is struck and the marriage is made, the major makes a shocking, miraculous recovery.

The Iron Duke

After the Iron Duke freed England from Horde control, he instantly became a national hero. Now Rhys Trahaearn has built a merchant empire on the power-and fear-of his name. And when a dead body is dropped from an airship onto his doorstep, bringing Detective Inspector Mina Wentworth into his dangerous world, he intends to make her his next possession. But when Mina uncovers the victim's identity, she stumbles upon a conspiracy that threatens the lives of everyone in England.

The Untamed Mackenzie: Highland Pleasures Series, Book 5.5

To redeem her family's disgraced name, Lady Louisa Scranton has decided to acquire a proper husband. He needs to be a man of fortune and highly respectable in order to restore both her family's lost wealth and reputation. She enters the Marriage Mart with all flags flying, determined to find the right bachelor. But Louisa's hopes are dashed when the Bishop of Hargate drops dead at her feet - and she is shockingly accused of murder!

Never Trust a Pirate: Scandal at the House of Russell, Book 2

Madeleine Russell counted on making a splendid match. Instead, a devastating family scandal left her orphaned and penniless...and determined to uncover the villain who disgraced and killed her father. The beautiful, quick-witted Maddy disguises herself as a household servant, vowing to work in her prime suspect’s house and learn the truth. But the closer she gets to the man who may have ruined her family, the more she feels drawn in by his wicked reputation.

NOT if they read the first book. It's a recycled plot!! Daughter poses as a maid, to find the "truth" about her father, Home is equipped with a (soon to be) laughably shallow Lady of the House…who hates the daughter/maid. Conflicted daughter seduced. Seduced daughter near-victim of murder. Everything is the same, except for the sodomy references, which I could have done without!!

What was one of the most memorable moments of Never Trust a Pirate?

I appreciated the demise of the villain NOT coming at the hands of the male lead…same as the first book.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Already did…when I listened to the first book.

Any additional comments?

XE is great, but I am annoyed at having, essentially, purchased the same book twice. Stuart is good….but it's time to come up with something fresh. One daughter to go. PLEASE make book 3 something refreshing. Please.

Never Kiss a Rake

Bryony Russell and her two sisters are left destitute by the disgrace and unexpected death of their father, a wealthy shipping magnate. He left a cryptic note, and Bryony is determined to find the real villain and clear her father’s name. In disguise as a servant, Bryony infiltrates the home her of father’s business partner to find proof of his guilt...or innocence. It’s not just clues that Bryony finds, but temptation too.... Adrian Bruton, Earl of Kilmartyn, immediately suspects there is something not quite right about his new housekeeper.

No Good Duke Goes Unpunished: The Third Rule of Scoundrels

He is the Killer Duke, accused of murdering Mara Lowe on the eve of her wedding. With no memory of that fateful night, Temple has reigned over the darkest of London's corners for twelve years, wealthy and powerful, but beyond redemption. Until one night, Mara resurfaces, offering the one thing he's dreamed of . . . absolution.

Would you consider the audio edition of No Good Duke Goes Unpunished to be better than the print version?

I have not read the print version but Landor does such a great job, I'd bet the audio is better!

What was one of the most memorable moments of No Good Duke Goes Unpunished?

When the heroine approaches Temple in the streets at night.

Have you listened to any of Rosalyn Landor’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Very consistent. Good stuff! Male voices are not much differentiated among the minor characters, though….except for children.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

All moments when the characters were torn between current attraction and past resentment.

Any additional comments?

I might have liked the heroine's reason for tricking Temple to be justified/explained a little sooner. It was hard to like her…what she had done seemed unforgivable and an indication that she was not a good person.

The Seduction of Elliot McBride

USA Today best-selling author and RITA Award winner Jennifer Ashley pens heart-pounding tales that keep listeners spellbound with torrid romance and finely crafted intrigue. Juliana St. John faces the ultimate mortification when she's stood up on her wedding day. But then fate places her face-to-face with her first love, Elliot McBride, and she finds herself falling for her half-mad former paramour.

The story was believable, compelling, and interesting. The characters were likable and sympathetic.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Seduction of Elliot McBride?

When the main characters first arrived at the estate. The author did a good job of using the house as a metaphor for Elliot's mental state.

Have you listened to any of Angela Dawe’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Dawe is very consistently good. What a talent! I feel that I am watching a film as opposed to simply listening to a book.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Several moments of Elliot's vulnerability. The author does an EXCELLENT job of making Elliot human without making him wimpy or a liability for the female character. I think this is tricky, but she pulls it off!

Lessons of Desire

Best-selling author Madeline Hunter stokes the fires with this sinfully delicious tale of an unjustly imprisoned woman and her savior. When publisher Phaedra Blair is released from confinement, she has Lord Elliot Rothwell to thank. But she soon learns Rothwell's ulterior motive - to prevent her from publishing a manuscript that would scandalize his family. Yet Phaedra doesn't mind playing Rothwell's erotic games - and she is every bit his match.

The narration is cold and haughty. It's difficult to distinguish the characters from the aloofness and unemotional tone of the narration. Mostly I feel like the characters are unlikable.

Would you recommend Lessons of Desire to your friends? Why or why not?

No. I will finish it because I paid for it, but I mostly use the book to fall asleep. Sounds rude, but it is absolutely true.

What didn’t you like about Jill Tanner’s performance?

She is emotionless. Her narration causes the characters to come off as emotionless and unlikable. I cannot cheer for them or even like them. They seem to have no pathos.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

No. I don't care about the objectives of the characters. The seduction scenes are so cold that I cannot believe that anything meaningful exists between the characters other than calculated manipulation.

Any additional comments?

I will not take another chance on this author or narrator because I cannot tell if the problem is with one, the other, or both.

The Thorn & the Thistle

Scotland, 1751: The MacLeods are a strong clan, united with their fellow Scots to resist English rule. But when their leader, the Black Wolf, is struck down in battle, it is up to his daughter to keep the rebellion alive. Megan knows she must act quickly or risk losing the fight for their ancestral lands. Desperate, she secretly assumes the Black Wolf's mantle, fooling their enemies into thinking he's still alive. If she can keep going for a bit longer, the clan's future will be secure.…

The Swerve: How the World Became Modern

Nearly six hundred years ago, a short, genial, cannily alert man in his late 30s took a very old manuscript off a library shelf, saw with excitement what he had discovered, and ordered that it be copied. That book was the last surviving manuscript of an ancient Roman philosophical epic by Lucretius—a beautiful poem containing the most dangerous ideas: that the universe functioned without the aid of gods, that religious fear was damaging to human life, and that matter was made up of very small particles.

Your report has been received. It will be reviewed by Audible and we will take appropriate action.

Can't wait to hear more from this listener?

You can now follow your favorite reviewers on Audible.

When you follow another listener, we'll highlight the books they review, and even email* you a copy of any new reviews they write. You can un-follow a listener at any time to stop receiving their updates.

* If you already opted out of emails from Audible you will still get review emails by the listeners you follow.